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Aphrodisiacs Around the World

Explore the globe to discover noted aphrodisiacs and courting rituals, from a New England "courting stick" to Cleopatra's alluring milk-and-cardamom baths. You know you want to . . .

Not So Mellow Yellow: Canada's Mad About Saffron
Researchers at Ontario's University of Guelph found that the yellow spice saffron was good for more than just flavouring meals, actually improving human sexual function.

Sweet Nothings: Courting Sticks Unite Lovers With a Whisper
Privacy was tough to come by in Puritan-era New England, so couples would use a "courting stick," a hollow pole about 6 to 8 feet (about 2 metres) long that allowed them to whisper sweet nothings into each other's ears while the rest of the family was in the room.

Avocados: The Aztec Secret to Virility
The Aztecs dubbed the avocado tree ahuacuatl (which translates to "testicle tree"), but this creamy fruit has a lot more going for it than just a suggestive shape—nutrients like magnesium and vitamin E may boost sexual health.

Locked In: Padlocks Signify Long-Lasting Love at a Uruguay Fountain
In Montevideo, Uruguay, a fountain holds thousands of padlocks and bears this inscription: "The legend of this young fountain tells us that if a lock with the initials of two people is placed in it, they will return together to the fountain and their love will forever be locked."

Lucky in Love: Ireland's Four-Leaf Clover
You probably know that a four-leaf clover is a sign of luck, but it can also be a sign of love. It's believed that if a woman consumes one of these relatively rare plants while thinking about the object of her affection, he'll be hers one day.

Green Giant: Asparagus and Its Potent Powers
Loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, asparagus is a worthy addition to your diet. Another reason to eat the green spears? In the 19th century, French grooms downed three courses of it before getting married for its purportedly potent powers.

It's Better With Chocolate: Sweet Treats From the Swiss
Although chocolate has forever had a reputation as an aphrodisiac, science has yet to back it up. But even if its effects are more imagined than real, you can't go wrong sharing some internationally famous Swiss chocolate with your beloved.

As the Romans Did: A Sip of Faith From the Trevi Fountain
When in Rome, do as the lovers do and visit the Trevi Fountain. Try drinking from the mini fountain off to the left with your partner to guarantee togetherness and faithfulness for the rest of your vacationing days.

Milk & Honey: Cleopatra's Fragrant Baths
Perhaps no one has been better at the art of seduction than Cleopatra, whose arsenal included fragrant baths—filled with ingredients such as cardamom, rose, milk, honey, cinnamon and basil—to ensnare the ones she wanted. Follow her lead with a bath of your own.

Mysterious Fruit: Coco-de-Mer Inspires Romance in the Seychelles
This rare plant—a symbol of fertility that some say resembles the backside of a woman—was given to the U.K.'s Prince William and his new bride, Kate, when they honeymooned in the Seychelles.

Ancient Rituals: Liquorice Love Potions From the Kama Sutra
For recipes with liquorice used as a love potion, look no further than the Kama Sutra, an ancient Hindu text that's known for spicing up romantic rendezvous.

Fertility Fête: Japan's Honen Matsuri Festival
Couples who want to keep their connection strong can make the trek in March to Japan's Honen Matsuri, a large fertility festival that involves a giant phallus being paraded through the streets.

Herbal Assistance: China's Horny Goat WeedPart of a genus of flowering plants called Epimedium, Horny Goat Weed got its name, according to legend, from a Chinese goatherd who noticed how, uh, spunky his flock was after ingesting the leafy herb.

Casanova's Secret Weapon: Oysters Set the Mood for LoveCasanova is rumoured to have eaten 50 oysters a day for breakfast, and while there's no proof that they made him the ladies' man he was, there's no doubt that oysters are one of the most enduring aphrodisiacs. In England, there are at least five annual festivals celebrating the frisky bivalve.

Sealing the Deal: Thailand's Bang Rak DistrictWith a name meaning "village of love," this district in Bangkok has become the spot to register for a marriage license for betrothed Thais. The most popular day to register? Valentine's Day, of course. Even if you're not getting married here, you can stroll the streets and soak up some of that loving feeling.

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